Jacks take series finale from Western, 12-2

Sunday, May 3

Erv Huether Field

1:00 PM

South Dakota State University

28-18, 15-9

Western Illinois

15-28, 8-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	10	3
South Dakota State	3	0	0	1	3	1	3	1	12	13	0

5/3/2015 5:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

The Jackrabbit offense collected 13 hits and Ryan Froom carried a shutout into the seventh inning as South Dakota State defeated Western Illinois, 12-2, in the decisive game of a three-game Summit League baseball series Sunday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

In winning by the 10-run rule for the second day in a row, the Jackrabbits improved to 28-18 overall and 15-9 in league play. WIU dropped to 15-28 overall, 8-16 in the Summit League.

SDSU jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead with the benefit of only one hit. Bases-loaded walks to Matt Johnson and Al Robbins — the third and fourth walks of the inning issued by Fighting Leatherneck starter Nick Milligan — accounted for the first two runs and an error led to the third and final run of the frame.

Robbins walked again to lead off the fourth, moved to third on a errant throw on a pickoff attempt and scored on a base hit by Paul Jacobson to push the SDSU lead to 4-0.

That started a string of five straight innings in which the Jackrabbits scored. Robbins singled in the first of three fifth-inning runs, and Eric Danforth followed later in the frame with a two-run double down the first-base line.

Tony Kjolsing singled home a run in the sixth and Zach Coppola and Luke Ringhofer each delivered run-scoring singles in the seventh.

Froom received plenty of help of the Jackrabbit defense to keep his shutout intact until the seventh. SDSU turned three double plays in the first four innings, the last of which came on a foul ball catch and throw to the plate by Danforth to get the WIU runner to end the fourth.

A sophomore from Crystal, Minnesota, Froom earned his fifth win of the season despite giving up a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Roman Visintine tripled in the first run of the game and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kendall King. Froom struck out one and walked only one, while Andrew Clemen finished up with 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief.

Coppola plated the game-ending run for the second time in the series with a single up the middle to score Robbins with his third run of the game. Reid Clary also scored three times. Coppola, Clary and Robbins, along with Paul Jacobson, each tallied two of the Jackrabbits' 13 hits.

Colton Pogue led Western Illinois with a 3-for-4 afternoon at the plate.

The Jackrabbits close out their homestand Wednesday afternoon, hosting North Dakota in a 4 p.m. contest at Erv Huether Field.

NOTES: SDSU won the regular season series, 4-2 … the Jackrabbits lead the all-time series against Western Illinois, 24-14 … Coppola extended his streak of reaching base safely to 40 games, while Danforth upped his corresponding streak to 34 games … Coppola stole his 34^th base of the season in as many attempts … Ringhofer extended his hitting streak to 13 games … SDSU scored double figures for runs for the 12^th time this season … the Jackrabbits improved to 14-4 at home … Milligan's start for WIU lasted only two-thirds of an inning before he left with an apparent injury … WIU pitchers walked six and hit four batters … Clemen has struck out 39 batters in 33 innings this season ... Danforth's outfield assist was the 21st by the Jackrabbits this season

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 12, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2 (8 inn.)
WIU 000 000 20 2-10-3
SDSU 300 131 31 12-13-0
WIU: Nick Milligan, Pete Minella (1), Sam Cottingham-Beard (5), Robert Nunn (7) and J.J. Reimer. SDSU: Ryan Froom, Andrew Clemen (7) and Reid Clary.
W-Froom (5-2). L-Milligan (1-1). Save-none.
HR: none.